Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 689 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT The Unstable Girl
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 2012.04.01
Meanwhile, Regina finds Mary Margaret crying in the jail. This is the most powerful scene in an all-around strong episode. If you're reading this before seeing the episode, stop reading here and go find the episode on ABC, or iTunes, or YouTube. There should be a new Emmy category: best two person scene in a drama -- it's just that stunning. Regina asks Mary if she's having a bad day. She wanted to see Mary while she can. The trial starts tomorrow. It won't be a long one. Mary will be sent out of Storybrooke and Regina will never have to see her again so she wants to enjoy it while she can. Poor Mary is so baffled. Regina says something about justice. Mary says this isn't justice -- it's watching an innocent suffer. Regina goes on about how Mary has always seen herself as an innocent. She spits the word innocent, again. Her hatred is so strong it feels nearly corporeal.
Mary proclaims she is innocent. She clings to the cell bars and gets her face as close to her tormentor as she can. Tears stream down her cheeks as Mary cries that she doesn't know what this is about, or what she ever did to Regina, but whatever it is, she's truly sorry. Regina says the apology is not accepted. Sobbing, Mary begs Regina not to do this to her. She doesn't deserve it. She did not kill Kathryn. Regina reaches her hand into the cell and wipes away Mary's tears and says, "Oh, I know." Mary recoils. Regina grabs her by the cheeks and says, "But you do deserve this." She swoops out of the jail room, leaving a frightened and baffled Mary, to stare after her and try to make sense out of nothing at all.
Enchanted Forest, Barn, Night. Just as Regina and Daniel are about to make their escape, Cora appears and magically throws them across the barn, enters the space and the doors magically close behind her. When Regina tries to explain, Cora berates her for thinking she could sneak out of Cora's house without her noticing. Regina asks her mother to listen. She wants to be with Daniel. Cora says Regina doesn't know what she wants.